Celebrating Way to Work’s 13,000 jobs

    The program funded paychecks for workers in hopes that employers would pick up the tab once the subsidy ends.

    A federal jobs program has come to an end with some good results. “Way to Work” in Philadelphia expires September 30th.

    About 13,000 teens and adults in Philadelphia found jobs through the Way to Work Program since it began May 19th. One of those workers was Shamira Goldsboro an 11th grader who says working changed her personality.

    “It was different for me because I was always a shy individual I never liked to speak my mind a lot. I never liked to do a lot of things, but when I started working at Mee Productions, it expanded my confidence, it help me be what I am now in my 11th grade year, I’m outgoing more and I like to be around people more.”

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    City and state officials are disappointed Congress did not extend the program, but say most of the adults hired through Way to Work will continue earning a paycheck. Even if their current employers lay them off, proponents say participants have new experience that will help them land another job.

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